Kerala.

Come see why they call it 'God's own country'

PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS INDIA KERALA

Kerala is where India slips down into second gear and reveals a beauty with few rivals. Coconut-studded coastlines meet canal-like backwaters, further east the undulating evergreen tea-carpeted hills. Little wonder it’s nicknamed ‘God’s own country’.

Join us for 10 days of journeying around its highlights – snoozing in luxe colonial mansions fronting the Indian Ocean, sampling tea from the highest plantations in the world, then venturing into the myriad backwaters in a luxury houseboat (plus plenty of those rejuvenating Ayurvedic treatments to boot). Each handpicked location offers breathtaking opportunities to learn the art of photography, and like all Creative Escapes, we’ll indulge, learn and explore the finest this region has to offer.

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“Creative Escapes takes everyday travel experiences to an inspiring new level. You’ll learn new creative skills, meet like-minded folk and traipse off the beaten path for a holiday to remember. The experienced guides are photography gurus and passionate travellers, who will lead you to the hippest hotels and the prettiest locations on the quirkiest of adventures. Fun is foremost so there is never a dull moment”

Highlights.

The Kerala backwaters are a beautiful, blissful location. Quaint houseboats glide across palm-fringed emerald waters, you can spot unique flora and fauna, go kayaking, and in between indulge in lip-smacking food cooked by talented on-board chefs.

And then there’s Cochin, the ‘Venice of the East’ – drawing traders, explorers and travellers to its shores for over 600 years. Nowhere else in India could you find such an intriguing mix: giant fishing nets from China, a 400-year-old synagogue, ancient mosques, Portuguese houses and the crumbling remains of the British Raj. The result is an unlikely blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English village grafted onto the tropical Malabar Coast.

Most of our hotels are offered by CGH Earth, a luxe eco hotel group with serious style, from the waterfront Brunton Boatyard, to Marari, a favourite of Sir Paul McCartney.

Practice the art of reportage on a street tour through 16th century backstreets of old Cochin, a series of small islands dubbed ‘The Venice of the East’ Shoot interiors at a 400 year old synagogue, ancient chinese fishing nets at dusk and the sweeping vistas from a privately chartered boat. Photograph portraits of the expressive Kathakali dancers backstage pre-performance. Practice reportage in B&W and Colour of workers at Kokukumalai – the world’s highest tea plantation – plus sunset landscapes of undulating cardamom plantations. Exclusive access to remote villages in the Keralan backwaters – most tourists stay for only one day so don’t ever see the outlying villages – where we go! A festival by the sea, chance to involve yourself in a rural celebration attended entirely by locals, lighting thousands of candles, parades through the street, and hypnotic chanting to reveal a smorgasbord of shooting possibilities.

Itinerary.

Touchdown into Kochi on the first day of your India Photography Holiday – and transfer to the city’s elegant old town, Fort Cochin, a stunning Caribbean-like port amongst myriad canals and lagoons. Here, we check into the elegant Brunton Boatyard, a plush 26-room boutique hotel carefully restored to an eco-friendly boutique hotel, with private balconies overlooking the harbour and antique four-posters to relax into after a long flight. Here we’ll start slowly, understanding every facet of our cameras (in a very non-techy fashion) before heading out to explore the narrow streets packed with old Portuguese houses and the crumbling remains of the British Raj.

Later we’ll taste the first of many lip smacking dinners – Bruton’s renowned chef lets us sample from over 30 varieties of cuisine; a dining experience Mr & Mrs Smith called ‘sublime’.

After a restful sleep, we’ll sample some Keralan-style breakfast overlooking the water, then take a look at some composition tips that will really make your images sing. These tips are about as far away from the ‘rule-of-thirds’ as you can get, secrets used by our team on commercial jobs that really make your images pack a punch.

Later, we’ll try out our new found skills touring the backstreets of old Cochin, meeting spice traders bartering in the back alleys, still doing business the old way, then stop by an old temple and witness Hindu worshippers – capturing modern life in an ancient setting.

We round off the day with a sunset boat tour around the isles of Cochin, chance to drink in this incredibly atmospheric iconic town.

We’ll start just after dawn, with a trip to a local auction, right on a beautiful beach on the outskirts of Cochin. This secret location is far from tourist eyes, so chance to mingle amongst locals, and capture some of the vibrant scenes of trade, bartering and customs that have existed for centuries. Your tutor will guide each of you individually to massively improve the visual impact of your pictures (and a few tricks often used by the pros), before returning for a detailed review, then some tuition on street photography, and inspiration from some famous street images from all across India.

Armed with our new found skills, we’ll head into the Jewish Quarter, and to a 400-year old Pardesi Synagogue, smack in the middle of this bustling port area and centre of the spice trade. Here, we’ll practice the art of contemporary street photography, before meeting the artisans who operate the Chinese Fishing nets, unofficial emblems of Kerala, and the orange-hued cinematic scenes around them at dusk.

We round off this fabulous day of shooting with some portraits of local Kathakali performers, a classical Indian dance originating from the 17th century, before sampling some of the fish caught fresh from the nets.

Munnar is the nature-lovers paradise, a quiet and restful resort snuggling in the green and serene Kannan Devan hills. We set off early, and arrive at the Windermere Estate Plantation & Resort in time for lunch, dining with panoramic views of low flying clouds and mist-filled tea-carpeted valleys. You really see why Kerala was dubbed ‘Gods own country’ – simply spectacular landscape.

Our environmentalist guide will take you for a tour of the estate cardamom plantations, and chance to get some incredible landscapes of the region from our viewpoint.

Later, we continue your photographic education, with a detailed session in the library on portraiture – including lens choice, where to stand, what to say, and how to craft something truly authentic. Next day, we’ll swap our transport to 4×4 jeeps, and take a private tour of Kolukkumalai Estate, one of the highest tea plantations in the world.

We’ll mingle amongst the tea pickers clipping tiny leaves across this carpeted vista, putting into practice all we have learned. Later, we’ll stop for a cuppa and see how the tea is processed from field to cup, then descend to Poatthamedu – the perfect viewpoint to capture the whole region. Munnar still retains all of the charm of colonial times, and it’s easy to see why this area was a favoured spot – it is simply beautiful here.

Kettuvallams, stitched rice boats built entirely without nails from teak and palm fronds, are the best way to experience the colourful backwaters of Kerala. Historically, these large barge-like boats were laden with spices and coir and carried trade through the canals of Alleppey.

Today, they are floating five-star hotels, and our boats are a cut above the rest. Wet rooms, four poster beds, expansive dining and relaxing areas, plus a staff ratio of 1:1, we’ll arrive in time for lunch, spend the day heading deep into the backwaters, exploring remote villages and settlements, in search of portraits of the many faces of Kerala. Back on board, your personal chef will serve you dinner in your private dining room, and concierge will see to your every need, before retiring to your bed, letting the lapping of the waves gently drift you into a deep sleep.

Next morning, we’re up early to shoot portraits of local life at dawn, and the wildlife – especially birdlife – is phenomenal here. Where most boats stay out for a single night, we stay on, sailing deeper into the backwaters, far from tourist attention, chance to really capture the true life around this myriad waterways. Later, we’ll hold some 1-on-1’s, so your tutor can give you some individual feedback on your progress, then it’s chance to truly unwind as you drift through the backwaters lounging on your personal daybed and doing absolutely, marvellously, nothing. It’s just heaven.

This morning, we’ll leave behind our floating hotel and take a drive to meet the Hugging Mother, at her Ashram in Kollam. Mata Amritanandamayi – low-level Dalai Lama and “Mother of Immortal Bliss” and disciples will personally greet you, leading you on a tour of the hermitage. Later, we’ll check into our final hideaway, the beach-fronted Marari Beach Resort, a favourite of Paul McCartney and the ultimate Indian coastal hideaway. Over cocktails, we’ll host a group review under the stars, editing down our images from the backwaters, and learning how to create a series that tells a compelling story.

Next morning, we’ll start work on our final project, to be shown in a pop-up exhibition and gala dinner for our final night’s celebration, chance to put into practice everything we have learned on the trip.

You’ll swing by a local festival to capture the energy and light of these fantastic Hindu celebrations, meet local artisans crafting coir and wood into incredible handmade products, or head beachside to document bustling trade under sun kissed rays. Time for one last 1-on-1 with your tutor, to see where your art should head next, then there’s time to relax on the beach after our final celebration party, and catch some rays before boarding the plane back home.

These are ten glorious days of adventuring like you’ve never done before.

Details.

10 – 19 May, 2019Available

6 – 15 September, 20193 places left

10 days. 9 nights. Starts and ends in Cochin, India.

£2480 / £395 single supplement

Price includes 9 days boutique accommodation at listed hotels, including breakfast 10 full days tuition from our UK-based professional photographer Professional guiding in Cochin and Munnar Full board on the luxury houseboat All transfers to and from the airport All transportation to shooting locations Backstage access to Kathakali, the Keralan dancers Entrance and 4×4 transportation to Kolukkumalai Tea Estate Multiple 1-on-1 tuition sessions

Price excludes flights, lunch and dinner.

There are no direct flights to Cochin from the UK, but there are great options with Emirates and Etihad. Prices start from £500.

Brunton Boatyard, Old Cochin

A luxury, colonial mansion in the heart of Fort Cochin, with each of the 26 grand rooms sea facing overlooking an expansive pool, and traditional punkah fans gracing the exquisite lobby.

Marari Beach, Marari

The ultimate Indian coastal hideaway, hosting celeb guests like Paul McCartney, the Times voted it one of “India’s Best Hotels”.

Houseboat, Backwaters

Our deluxe kettuvallams – or houseboats – are the most luxurious on the water – four poster beds, AC, wetroom bathrooms. Seven staff will keep just three guests in absolute luxury.

"Fabulous locations, amazing hotels & great memories. Thanks to Creative Escapes I have moved from taking a gazillion bland photographs to images I am really proud of. Already thinking about my next trip!"